In the Lord I Take Refuge: Daily Devotions Through the Psalms with Dane Ortlund Psalm 87 - Glorious Things of You Are Spoken
Mar 31, 2026
A short reading of Psalm 87 highlights Zion, nations, and singers declaring springs in you. A reflection links John Newton’s hymn to the psalm’s celebration of salvation and refuge. The talk focuses on Zion as God and concludes with the hymn’s vision of inhabitants redeemed and Christ as priest and king.
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Zion Symbolizes Salvation And Refuge
- Psalm 87 celebrates Zion as God's city that symbolizes salvation and refuge rather than mere architecture.
- Dane Ortlund emphasizes that glorious things are spoken of Zion because it represents God himself offered to sinners.
John Newton's Hymn Echoes Psalm 87
- Dane Ortlund recounts John Newton's 1779 hymn adaptation to illustrate Psalm 87's theme.
- He quotes Newton's opening stanza and lines about Zion's founding and salvation's walls to show the psalm's celebration.
City Imagery Points To God's Mercy
- God's city in Scripture functions as a chief metaphor for salvation, rooted in God's mercy rather than human merit.
- Ortlund states Zion represents God himself, and in him we take refuge, connecting the metaphor to personal trust.